in all the rivers and
waters round about us? Job xxvi. 7, 8. Who is it that restrains and sets
bounds to the sea, that the waters thereof, though they roar, yet do not
overflow the land, but this almighty Jehovah, whose decree and commandment
is the very compass, the bulwark over which they cannot flow? And all this
he doth with more facility than men can speak. If there were a creature
that could do all things by speaking, that were a strange power. But yet
that creature might be wearied of speaking much. But he speaks, and it is
done. His word is a creating word of power, which makes things that are
not to be, and there is no wearying of him besides, for he is almighty and
cannot faint. But why then did he take six days for his work? Might he not
with one word of his power have commanded this world to issue out of his
omnipotent virtue thus perfect as it is? What needed all this compass? Why
took he six days, who in a moment could have done it all with as much
facility? Indeed herein the Lord would have us to adore his wisdom as well
as his power. He proceeds from more imperfect things to more perfect;--from
a confused chaos to a beautiful world,--from motion to rest,--to teach man
to walk through this wilderness and valley of tears, this shapeless world,
into a more beautiful habitation; through the tossings of time, into an
eternal sabbath of rest, whither their works shall follow them, and they
shall rest from their labours. He would teach us to take a steadfast look
of his work, and that we should be busied all the days of our pilgrimage
and sojourning in the consideration of the glorious characters of God upon
the works of his hands. We see that it is but passing looks and glances of
God's glory we take in the creatures; but the Lord would have us to make
it our work and business all the week through, as it was his to make them.
He would in this teach us his loving care of men, who would not create man
till he had made for him so glorious a house, replenished with all good
things. It had been a darksome and irksome life to have lived in the first
chaos without light, but he hath stretched over him the heavens as his
tent, and set lights in them to distinguish times and seasons, and
ordained the waters their proper bounds and peculiar channels, and then
maketh the earth to bring forth all manner of fruit, and when all is thus
disposed, then he creates man. To this God, the Maker of heaven and earth,
be glory and pra